PMID 39543304

Research
All papers

High-intensity interval training is an effective exercise mode to maintain normal blood pressure during pregnancy: a randomized control trial

Sun J, Radzimiński Ł, Santos-Rocha R, Szumilewicz A

Question

Does online supervised HIIT maintain normal blood pressure and cardiorespiratory fitness during uncomplicated pregnancy compared with education plus self-performed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity?

Summary

In healthy normotensive pregnant women, an 8-week online supervised bodyweight HIIT program and an education program encouraging self-performed moderate-to-vigorous activity both maintained normal blood pressure. HIIT preserved cardiorespiratory fitness better, but this evidence applies only to carefully screened uncomplicated pregnancies with specialist supervision.

Methodology

  • Healthy normotensive women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies
  • 54 participants.
  • Bodyweight mixed prenatal exercise.
  • Work intervals: 30 to 60 s.
  • Recovery: 30 to 60 s.
  • Intensity: Above anaerobic-threshold HR while comfortable.
  • 60 min.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 8 weeks.
  • Randomized controlled trial
  • Resting blood pressure, Post-CPET blood pressure, and VO2peak were tracked.

Outcomes

Blood pressure

Both groups maintained normal BP values throughout the intervention.

No hypertension cases observed in either group.

Improved

Systolic BP

Resting systolic BP decreased more in EDU than HIIT.

HIIT 111.76 to 110.91 mmHg; EDU 115.95 to 107.50 mmHg; group effect p=0.016.

Mixed

VO2peak

HIIT maintained VO2peak while EDU declined.

HIIT 25.71 to 25.67 mL/kg/min; EDU 23.69 to 19.75 mL/kg/min; p<0.001.

Improved

Insights

  • Prenatal HIIT should be treated as specialist-supervised and clearance-dependent.
  • RPE and talk-test monitoring are practical safety tools.
  • HIIT may preserve fitness during pregnancy even when BP outcomes are similar to moderate activity advice.

Limitations

  • Healthy normotensive pregnancy sample only
  • No hypertensive pregnancy group
  • Some dropout and imperfect adherence
  • No nutrition/energy-intake assessment
  • No family-history hypertension data

Safety

  • No negative impact on pregnancy process or delivery parameters was reported.
  • The trial included only uncomplicated singleton pregnancies without contraindications.